Building a Model Astrolabe

TL;DR

This paper provides a practical guide to building a working medieval astrolabe model, including assembly instructions, usage explanations, and customizable options for different latitudes.

Contribution

It introduces a hands-on, reproducible model of the astrolabe with detailed assembly instructions and customizable features for various latitudes.

Findings

A functional astrolabe model can be constructed from photocopies.

The model can be adapted for different geographic latitudes.

Vector scripts enable customization of the astrolabe.

Abstract

This paper presents a hands-on introduction to the medieval astrolabe, based around a working model which can be constructed from photocopies of the supplied figures. As well as describing how to assemble the model, I also provide a brief explanation of how each of its various parts might be used. The printed version of this paper includes only the parts needed to build a single model prepared for use at latitudes around 52{\deg}N, but an accompanying electronic file archive includes equivalent images which can be used to build models prepared for use at any other latitude. The vector graphics scripts used to generate the models are also available for download, allowing customised astrolabes to be made.